Willie Nelson's 4th of July Picnic
WILLIE NELSON announced the details of his annual 4th of July Picnic. It's returning to where it all began in Dripping Springs, Texas, which is just outside Austin . . . and he's assembled a kickass lineup.
Performers include Eric Church, Kacey Musgraves, Merle Haggard, Sturgill Simpson, Jamey Johnson, Jason Isbell, Leon Russell, and Billy Joe Shaver.
Tickets go on sale April 10th.
Darius Rucker Just Wants to Play Music and Raise His Kids
If everyone was like DARIUS RUCKER, therapists would go out of business. The guy loves his family, and seems so well adjusted it's almost not fair. He doesn't try to hide it either.
"Billboard" asked why his new album "Southern Style" is filled with songs about his family life. He said, quote, "I like living a normal life, dropping off and picking up my kids at school. That's the way I want it. I want to play the music and raise the kids."
He even records his albums in his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina. Quote, "We just hang out at my house when we record. You still come up with something great, but it's not like when we're having five sessions a day and trying to knock it out.
"It's pretty laid-back. And it definitely affects my vocals because I'm always so much happier and so much more relaxed."
In a different interview, Darius was asked how he arrived at the album's title, "Southern Style". He said, quote, "When I started listening back . . . it seemed like a lot of the songs were about that laid back lifestyle.
"I thought that's a great name for the record because all the songs were in that southern style."
Jason Aldean and Brittany Kerr Definitely Want to Have Kids
This throws cold water on the idea that BRITTANY KERR was goldigging when she broke up JASON ALDEAN's marriage. It appears she's in it for the long haul, or at least long enough to pop out a few of his babies.
Jason talked about it on the red carpet at Sunday's iHeartRadio Music Awards. He said, quote, "In the next couple of years, probably, we definitely want to have kids."
He also said his daughters, 12-year-old Keeley, and 7-year-old Kendyl, are "pumped" at the idea of being big sisters. He added, quote, "They want a brother, so we'll see what we can do about that."
Trisha Yearwood releases her third cookbook, Trisha's Table: My Feel-Good Favorites For A Balanced Life, today. The book, which she wrote with her sister, Beth, includes a foreword by Garth Brooks and features both traditional recipes and some healthier dishes. Some of the new recipes include dairy-free Angel Hair Pasta with Avocado Pesto, vegetarian Smashed Sweet Pea Burgers, Edamame Parmesan, as well as Slow Cooker Georgia Pulled-Pork Barbecue, Chicken Tortilla Casserole and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls.
Playboy Mansion Tunnels
An editor at Playboy.com discovered that there used to be secret underground tunnels directly to the Playboy Mansion from the homes of Jack Nicholson, James Caan, Warren Beatty, and Kirk Douglas. They were built sometime in the '70s, but were closed in 1989.
The Playboy editor came across photos from 1977, that showed a large excavation project at the mansion. After doing a little research, he found blueprints for the tunnels that led to these guys' houses . . . which were all pretty close to the mansion.
But that's all he could get from anyone at Playboy. Even Hefner didn't want to talk about the tunnels. And reps for Nicholson, Caan, Douglas and Beatty wouldn't comment, either.
Four April Fools' Day Pranks That Could Cause a Break-Up
Here are four April Fools' Day pranks that can cause a break-up: Don't do anything that involves their job . . . that might hurt them physically . . . that might make them think you're cheating . . . and don't fake propose or say you're pregnant.
New on DVD Today!
• "Interstellar" stars Matthew McConaughey, as a former NASA pilot sent to find a new world to colonize when the Earth becomes uninhabitable. Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, and Michael Caine are also in it.
• "Wild" stars Reese Witherspoon as an inexperienced backpacker who takes a 1,100 mile hike to get over the death of her mother and come to grips with all the mistakes she made in her life.
New to Netflix Instant Streaming!
"The November Man" stars Pierce Brosnan as a spy who's lured out of retirement to protect Bond girl Olga Kurylenko from a CIA hit squad led by the guy he once trained. It also stars Luke Bracey, star of the upcoming "Point Break" remake.
On "Dancing with the Stars" last night, judge BRUNO TONIOLI insulted CHARLOTTE MCKINNEY's intelligence, telling her she's never going to win the Nobel Prize for quantum physics. She also ended up being sent home.
COUNTRY MUSIC EXTRAS
LUKE BRYAN went in for elbow surgery in Nashville. He Tweeted, "No biggie. Minor surgery on a tendon on my elbow. Been putting it off. All good." According to CMT.com, his left arm's in a sling, but he'll be well enough to perform at the Arizona Country Thunder on April 12th.
BROOKS & DUNN will be reuniting at next month's ACMs. It'll be their first TV performance together since 2010. There's also going to be a couple of "surprise" duets. Nick Jonas will perform with Dan + Shay . . . and Christina Aguilera will be matched up with a mystery artist. (CMT)
THOMAS RHETT says he's recorded a "ton of songs" for his next album . . . and is currently narrowing down the ones that will make it in.
Like a lot of country performers, the guys in A THOUSAND HORSES learned about singing and performing in church.
KACEY MUSGRAVES posted a photo of her and her band wearing ball caps that support LITTLE BIG TOWN's "Girl Crush".
